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Keep in mind that Kentex Manufacturing Corporation was found to have violated several labor and safety laws.
On Fri, May 22, at the Barangay Ugong Assembly Hall in Valenzuela City, Barbara Ang — the eldest child of Veato Ang, one of the shareholders of Kentex Manufacturing Corp. — faced the victims’ families and survivors of the May 13 factory fire.
“Ang asked for forgiveness and more patience, saying her family was also shaken and still reeling from the tragedy. She added that her 80-year-old father was ‘shocked’ and hospitalized upon learning about the fire,” reports Rima Granali in Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Ang stated, “This is not the best time to point fingers at those who should be blamed or are at fault. We are all going through the same thing. This is also our darkest hour. We’re just glad that (my father) did not suffer a stroke.”
Ang then led the distribution of bags of assorted groceries and PHP5,700 in cash among the families.
Speaking to reporters after the dialogue with the families, Ang said, “Their families died while working for us. I think it is our moral obligation to ask for forgiveness. (The victims’ families) deserve to hear ‘sorry’ from the owners. But we are not saying it’s our fault. This is an accident.”
The report noted: “Another Kentex owner, Guan King Ong, suffered third-degree burns in an attempt to save his son Tristan, who ended up among the 72 casualties in the seven-hour fire. Also killed were Heidi Pang, a minority shareholder, and operations manager Josie Ty.”
As the report indicated, “the reactions from the crowd that Ang addressed were mixed.”
Last May 16, Kentex had given out PHP13,000 per family, the amount representing a 10-day “backpay” of PHP8,000 and initial assistance at PHP5,000.
Photo: Dennis Datu, dzMM (Twitter)
